Camera synchronizer



Feb. 8, 1944. s. MENDELsoHN Erm.

CAMERA- sYN'cHRoNIzER original Filed oct. 18, 1941 2 sneaks-sheet 2 uli? viv' INVENTORS `S'. MENDEZ S//V F /C MC GALL WQ/umkwm. i

ATTORNEY v Reissued Feb. 8, 1944 CAMERA SYNCHBNIZEE samuel Menaemhn, Montclair, ma yruim x. McGall. Orange, N. J.; said McGall or to said Mendelsohn Original No. 2,328,831, dated September 7, 1943, .l

Serial No. 415,548, October 18, 1941. A

millention for reissue November 8, 1943, Serial No.

' The present inventlon'relates to what is now commonly referred to in the art as a vcamera synchronizer for opening a camera shutter simultaneously with the moment of peak intensity of aphotoash lamp and may be said to constitute an improvement over the structure as shown in Patent No. 2,204,424, issued June 11, 1940, to S.

- Mendelsohn, one of the present joint inventors.

In all the present types of camera, synchronizers the electrical energy for ignitlng the photofiash lamp, and for energizing a solenoid when vthe camera shutter is electrically operated, is supplied by dry cell batteries. Since such batteries too frequently wear out in a comparativelyfshort period of time thisy has proven to be asource of annoyance to the newspaper photographer or candid camera fan necessitating their keeping spare batteries on hand at all times lest thosein the synchronizer go dead at a moment when it is ldesired to take an important photograph .of a non -recurring-scene or object.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a camera synchronizer which requires no batteries for supplying electrical energy for igniting the photoiiash lamp or causing opening of the camera shutter.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a camera synchroniaer wherein a source of electrical energy is provided for igniting the photoflash lamp or causing opening of the camera shutter which has a useful life com- Y parable to that of the synchroniser itself.

A further object of the present| invention is the provision of a camera synchronizer which is provided with an integral electrical generator of indefinite life which supplies the required electrical energy for igniting the photoiiash lamp or causing opening of the camera shutter.l

Still further objects of the present invention will become obvious to those skilled inthe art by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: y

Fig. 1 is an elevational view,in section of a camera synchronizer constructed in accordance with'the present invention and showing the same asmechanicallyoperable to cause opening of the camera shutter;

Fig.' 2 isa fragmentary sectionalview of the s claims. (ci. rifas) Fig.l l4l lis afragmentary view-of a modification which the camera synchronizer of the present invention may take;

Figs. 5 to l8 each show still further rnociica-` tions which the camera synchronizer may take;

Figs. 9 to 12 show rvarious operating positions of another modification, and

Fig. 13 is a View somewhat similar to Fig. 1 but showing electrical operation of the camera shutter.

Referring now to the drawings in detail the camera synchronizer therein shown comprises a casing 5 closed at one end by an end cap or the like 6 and the opposite open end being provided with a spring contact terminal 1 carried by an insulated blocls, and a metal clip 9 thus `form lng a socket for a photoilash lamp III. Also secured to the casing 5 is a bracket I2 which adjustably supports a reflector I3.

An electric generator in the form of a perma-v nent magnet I4 provided with a winding I5 is disposed within the casing 5 with one end of the winding being grounded to the metallic c-asingi as at I6 so as to establish connection through the clip 9 to the shell of the photoiiash lamp I0, while the other end of the winding I5l as shown in Fig. 1, is connected directly to the spring contact terminal 1. As will he noted from the several figures the permanent magnet I4 is provided with pole piecesY I1 above and below the winding I5 and an armature Il is maintained in oating condition ir. the magnetic ield of the winding with its ends passingl through each of the pole pieces il. y.

Extending transversely of the casing 5 is a hollow housing l2Il for a slidable plunger 22 having a. thumb button-23 exteriorly of the housing. A cablerelease 2l surrounding a Bowden ,wire 25 is adjustably connected to the opposite end of the housing 20 which connects to the camera shutter 26 in thecustomary manner. A coil spring 21 is also disposed within the housing 20 for the purpose of preventing lost motion of the plunger 22.

generator portion of the camera -synchronizer shown in Fig. "1 illustrating one operating position of the apparatus;

F'igfis a view similar to Fig; 2 [showing a iur- Y ther opratingposilinotlie electrical generator portion oi the camera synchroniser of the present invention.

A notch :s is provided in the housing zo to enable the armature I8 to extend therethrough and into a. slot 29 provided in the plunger 22. By

reference to Fig. 1 it will be noted that in the normal or fcocked position of the synchronizer the armature I8 is attracted to the upper left hand and lower right hand pole pieces |1, with the magnetic flux flowing through the armature I8 from the pole piece of positive polarity to the one oi negative polarity, or from the north Atothe south pole. Wh'enit is desired to'takea photograph the operator depresses they thumb button 23 which mov Vthe plunger 22 thus compressing slightly the spring 21 and moving the Bowden wire 25. By the 'time the plunger has moved so that the shoulder formed at the end of the slot 23 engages the amature I3, as shown in Fig. 2, the

camera shutter 26 will be conditioned for opening upon further'movement o! the plunger 22 to trip the shutter trigger arm, since the cable releaseconnection with the housing 20 is so adjusted relative to the length of the slot 23 that such action takes place.

Further depression of the plunger 22 by the operator overcomes the magnetic force with the result that the metallic contact between the arn mature I8 and the upper and lower pole pieces I1 is broken very abruptly. 'Ihis breaking of the metallic contact accordingly induces anl electrical impulse in the winding I and since thearmature rotates about an imaginary pivot (or fixed `insulated pivot if desired) an additional impulse is induced as a metallic contact is established between the upper right and lower left hand pole pieces I1, as shown in Fig. 3, with the flow of l magnetic iiux being now in an'opposite direction through the armature I8. v

Inasmuch as the camera shutter 23 was conditioned for opening at about the instant the y plunger 22 moved the full length of thel slot 23,

the electrical impulses generated by further movement of the plunger and rotation of the armature I3 are transmitted directly to the photoflash lamp lli through the socket connecting clip 3 and terminal 1, thus igniting the lamp III. At about the same time the armature I3 moves with generation of the Yelectrical impulse, the shutter In the embodiment as shown in Fig..1, thespring 21 is such that its tension is insui'licient,V

even` when compressed by, depressionk of the plunger 22 in the taking'of a photograph, to return the plunger to the cocked position by" overcoming the magnetic force tending to hold the armature I3 in the position as shown in Fig.4

3. Consequently in order to condition the synchronlzer it is necessary that it be again cocked" by the operator pulling outwardly on the plunger thumb button 23, or the plunger may be provided with an arm 3D passing through a slot 32 such as shown in the modification of Fig."5.

Also various other trigger arrangements may be provided for operating the synchronizer in lieu of the operator depressing the plunger button 23. For example, a spring 33 may be provldedbetween the underside' oi the button 23 and the casing 5 instead of interiorly of the housing 23. as .shown in Figs. 4, 6 and 7, and the pivot bell crank 34 and socket 35 of Fig. 6 provided for moving the piston 22 by pulling on the bell crank lever 34. Still further a camarrangement 31 such as shown in Fig. '1, may be utilized. In addition a construction as shown in Fig. 8 may prove advantageous wherein a spring 33 is disposed within the housing 23 which is compressed upon "cockin`g the plunger and stores sufficient potential energy to cause movement of both the plunger 22 and armature I3 when a spring pressed catch 3l is released by a pulling action on the part of the operator.

In all ofthe modifications thus far described, wherein manual "cooking" of the synchronizer is necessary prior to the taking ci a photograph, there is always the possibility that should the photographer insert a photoilashlamp prior to cooking it will be inadvertently ignited by the impulse generated attendant movement of the armature toward cocking" position. To eliminate thisvdisadvantageous feature a structure as shown in Figs. 9 to V12 may be provided. This modification differs from that` of Figs. 1 to 3 merely in the provision of; a switch arrangement. which allows` a circuit to be completed to the photoflashlamp III only when the synchronizer is in the "cocked" position. l

As shown in Figs. 9 to 12 the casing 5 is provided with an auxiliary housing 40 enclosing a pair of contacts 42 and 43. The contact 42 is secured to the metallic casing 5 and thus forms part of the grounded metallic circuit tothe clip 9 .and the shell of the lamp I0, whereas the conf tact 43 is carried by an insulatedA support 44 and is connected by a vwire 45 to the opposite end of the winding I5, instead of the latter being grounded as at I6 in Fig. 1.

yIn thenormal cocked position of the synchronizer as shown in Fig. 9 these contacts are spaced relative toreach other with the upper insulated end 4I of the contact terminal 43 extendl ing through a slot 46 provided in the auxiliary pleted until the plunger has started its movement housing 4I! in spaced relation with a pin 41 carried by the plunger 2 2.

By the time the plungerf22 has been depressed sufficiently to cause the shoulder formed in the slot 29 to engage the end of armature I8, the

pin 41 will have engaged the end of contact 43 and flexed it to the right into engagement with the contact 42, as shown in Fig. l0, thus completing the circuit to the photoilash lamp III.

Further depression of thevplunger button 23 thus the contacts 42 and 43, returns vthe plunger 23 in the opposite direction until the right hand shoulder formed Vat the end of the slot 29 engages the armature I8 Ysuch as shown in Fig. 12. At this time'the pin 41 will likewise have moved suiliciently to the left to allow separation of the contacts* 42 and 43 thus breaking the electrical circuit. Consequently a new photoash `lamp may be inserted in the socket prior to the synchronirer being again cocked without fear of the lamp being inadvertently ignited by any impulse attendant movement of the armature, since the electrical circuit to the lamp is not again comin the shutter opening direction.

In the modifications above described the opening of the camera shutter is accomplished by mechanical movement. However, the present in vention also` contemplates the automatic opening of the camera shutter in response to the energization of, a solenoid, such for example as shown in Patent 2.204.424, issued June 1i. 1940. to s. y

Fig. 13 shows this latter type of synchronizer wherein the camera shutter 2B is opened in respouse to movement of the amature il of a solenoid 52, the latter of which is connected in electrical parallel with the photoash lamp Ill. For example, a plug 53 may be inserted through an opening 54 in the casing 5 with the contacts of the plug establishing engagement with a pair of resilient contacts 55 and 56 connected, respectively. to the spring contact 1 and metallic casing 5.

It may also be advantageous in this particular embodiment to have the amature I8 make and break its engagement with the pole pieces I1 twice thus not only automatically cooking the synchronizer preparatory to another exposure but in addition generating four rapid electricalimpulses instead of two as in the previous modifications. This is readily accomplished merely by making the spring 51 of Fig. 13 of suiiicient strength that the energy stored therein upon movement of the plunger will return the latter to its cocked positlon by overcoming the magnetic force tending to hold the armature to the right, as shown for example in Fig. 12.

From the foregoing it should be obvious to those skilled in the art that a synchronizer for opening a camera shutter-simultaneously with the moment of peak intensity from a photollash lamp is herein provided wherein the electrical energy for igniting the lamp is supplied by a self-contained generator requiring no replacement. Moreover,

the synchronizer may also be so constructed that.

the integral electrical generator supplies the energy both for igniting the photoflash lamp and for operating an electrical solenoid which automatically causes opening of the camera shutter. Consequently since batteries are completely dispensed with a photographer need not worry about carrying spares or his synchronizer failing to operate at a cruical moment through lack of suilicient electrical energy to operate.

Although several modifications of the present invention have been shown and described it is to be understood that still further embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit and scope oi' the appended claims.

v What is claimed is:

1. A camera synchronlzerior opening' a. camera shutter simultaneously with the moment of peak intensity from a photoash lamp comprising a casing, an electric generator in said casing including a magnet and a pivoted amature normally completing a magnetic circuit through said magnet and operable upon -movement of said armature about its pivot to generate electrical energy and cause ignition of said photoflash lamp, and a. plunger slidable in said casing engageable with said pivoted armature and connected to the camera shutter and operable upon depression' thereof to cause opening of the camera shutter and abrupt breaking and. making oi' the magnetic circuit by movement ot said amature about its pivot to cause the resulting energy impulses to ignite said photofiash lamp with peak intensity thereof in synchronism with complete opening of the camera shutter.

2.l A camera synchronizer for opening a camera shutter simultaneously with the moment of peak intensity from a photoiiash lamp comprisving a casing, an electric generator in said casing including a magnet and a pivoted armature normally completing a magnetic circuit through said magnet and operable upon movement of said armaturel about its pivot to generate electrical energy of suilicientmagnitude to ignite said photoflash lamp, a housing extending transversely of saidcasing provided 'with an elongated opening through which one end of said armature projects. a plunger slidable in said housing and operable `upon depression thereof to cause opening of the camera shutter, and said plunger having a slot provided with a shoulder engageable with said armature after partial movement thereof to cause movement of said armature about its pivot upon further movement of said plunger with abrupt breaking and making of said magnetic circuit and ignition of said photoash lamp by the ensuing energy impulses with peak intensity of said lamp in synchronism with complete opening of saidv camera shutter.

era shutter simultaneously with the moment of peak intensity from a photoflash lamp comprising a casing, an electric generator in said casing including a permanent magnet provided with pole pieces and having a pivoted armature normally completing a magnetic circuit between said pole pieces and a winding surrounding said armature for generating impulses of sufllcient magnitude to ignite a photoash lamp upon breaking and making said magnetic circuit, a housing extending transversely of said casing provided with an elongated opening through which one end of said amature projects, a plunger slidable in said housing and operable upon depression thereof to cause opening of the camera shutter, said plunger having a slot provided with a shoulder engageable with said armature after partial movement thereof to cause movement of said armature about its pivot' upon further movement of said plunger, and a normally open switch carried by said casing and closable by movement of said plunger in the shutter opening direction to connect said winding to said photoilash lamp and to cause the impulses generated in said winding attendant the breaking and making of said magnetic circuit by movement SAMUEL MENDELsoHN. PHILIP K McGALn 

